fado

noun

fa·​do ˈfä-(ˌ)t͟hü How to pronounce fado (audio)
ˈfa-
plural fados
: a plaintive Portuguese folk song

Examples of fado in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Step back in time with a visit to this fado joint, built in a former chapel in Alfama, with the original tiles and murals still on the walls. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026 At night, take in a traditional fado show. Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026 Ditto at the rain-free Humphreys debuts of gospel-music legends The Blind Boys of Alabama, Brazilian music superstar Milton Nasciemento, solo guitarist Stanley Jordan, blues vocal dynamo Shemekia Copland, Portuguese fado singing star Mariza and, in 2017, the pioneering art-rock band King Crimson. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026 The neighborhoods of Alfama and Bairro Alto stay lively late into the night with fado music, good wine, and shared plates. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fado

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, literally, fate, from Latin fatum

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fado was in 1890

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fado.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fado. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on fado

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster